New Delhi: A Delhi Court extended Monday the CBI custody of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram by one day in the INX Media corruption case.
Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar will also hear at 3:50pm Tuesday the interim bail plea of Chidambaram, who was produced before the court on the expiry of his three-day CBI custody granted, August 30. The CBI opposed any relief to Chidambaram in the case and sought extension of his custodial interrogation by a day.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal moved the interim bail application of the former minister and senior Congress leader, who was arrested on the night of August 21.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought time to reply to P Chidambaram’s interim bail plea and said that notice be issued to the CBI as it is required statutorily.
“All citizens have to be treated equally,” Mehta said, adding that personal liberty of every citizen is equal.
After the judge was informed about Monday’s Supreme Court hearing, he asked if there was any direction by the apex court to seek the relief and to decide on it Monday itself.
During the hearing, Tushar Mehta asked what was so special and extraordinary in this case. Responding to his submission, senior advocate AM Singhvi, also appearing for P Chidambaram, said the Solicitor General would not have been here if it would have been a normal case.
Mehta said it would be a serious travesty of justice if the CBI is not given time to reply to the bail plea and demanded 10 days time. Advocate Kapil Sibal also appearing for P Chidambaram said he wants to argue for bail.
While submissions were being made by both the sides, Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar said, “I do not know what order has been passed by the Supreme Court.”
Singhvi said that according to them, the apex court has asked to decide the interim bail plea Monday itself or extend the police custody till September 5. The special court August 30 had extended Chidambaram’s CBI custody till Monday.
P Chidambaram, 73, has been already subjected to custodial interrogation by the CBI for 11 days since his arrest August 21, after the Delhi High Court August 20 dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.
Chidambaram’s son Karti was also present in the court. Chidambaram, who was Union Home Minister as also Finance Minister during the UPA rule from 2004 to 2014, was arrested by the CBI from his Jor Bagh residence here. He was earlier produced before the court August 22 and was remanded to four-day CBI custody.
PTI